By IANS,
Kolkata : You can do it in Gujarat in one day. In two days in Karnataka. But in West bengal, you would require 105 mandays to do it. Obtaining and registering property is the most time-consuming process in the Marxist-ruled state, according to Indian Chamber of Commerce president Harsh K. Jha.
The single-window system for clearing industrial projects has done fairly well in states such as Gujarat and Karnataka, but fallen short of expectations in West Bengal, Jha said here Monday.
In Gujarat, it takes a day to obtain and register property, while in Karnataka, it takes two days, Jha said. In contrast, 105 mandays are consumed in obtaining and registering property in West Bengal.
The West Bengal Industrial Development Corp is the premier agency of the state’s commerce and industry department assisting in the implementation of projects through the single-window system.
The system allows people in trade and transport to file standardised information and documents at a single entry point to fulfil all import-, export- and transit-related regulatory requirements.
It also allows investors to submit their intent to invest along with all relevant documents through a single composite form, with a single point of contact or a “single window”.
The ICC has recommended a slew of measures in a report on the single-window system to help the West Bengal government attract more investments. The report was handed over to the state commerce and industry department a week ago.
The chamber has rooted for the promulgation of an Act to lay down a proper time frame pertaining to the various approvals.
Recommending an independent authority, Jha said: “The state government can put in some mechanism which will define the cycle-time of each activity. If that activity does not take place within that cycle-time, it will be considered as approved. This will bring efficiency to the system.”